Page 41 of Make Me, Break Me

The Kingsman frat boasted a new logo and merch in their campus and online shop in short order. Once Zinzi started, she was a whirlwind powerhouse that was a genuine joy to watch. Falcon and Nelson, however, had the dubious joy of working with her. Dubious, because they had to keep up and neither of them did so well on lack of sleep or being told what to do around the clock.

Beau seemed to find the whole thing hilarious and was a lot more personable with Sylvie back by his side, though thanks to Nelson's delivery service and gifts to his girlfriend, he now also was the unhappy owner of a teapot wall that Sylvie had installed in his bedroom.

“You’re happy?” I asked Zin, lifting her hair to press a line of kisses along her shoulders where she worked on her laptop in a nightie, perched on my bed, sharing my desk space. I still had a lot of work to catch up with from being off with broken bits and chasing a wounded heart, but having her with me helped. A whole hell of a lot.

“Happy?” She raised a glowing face to mine for a kiss I happily provided. “Are you kidding? Beau throws me challengesat every turn. I love it. It’s like fighting with someone who actually has a brain. Not that you don’t have a brain, but he is…aggressive. I enjoy the challenge.”

“You enjoy working and having something to do.” I kissed the top of her head.

“Yep.”

“Good. As long as he doesn't take all your time up.” I lifted her body and slipped beneath her so she straddled my lap. “Because I still need time with my girl.”

“Not right now.” She wiggled her ass temptingly in my lap.

“Nope.” I kissed the top of her head, then the corner of her mouth as she frowned. “For luck?”

“Why do you need luck?” Her attention successfully severed from her laptop, she tipped her mouth back, seeking mine. “What are you doing?”

I kissed her back, threading my hands through hair and made it deep and long until her whole body softened on my lap. “That’s what I was after, sweetness. I’m fighting Beau.”

“What? Now?” she shrieked in my ear. “Are you fucking insane?”

I shrugged. “Jury's out. I’m probably deaf after that, but who really knows. It's safe, Zin.”

“Safe, my ass. He held me in a locked room until you got there.”

“Without the twins.”

She glared at me. “They told me you were going to die.”

My hand curved around her face. “Didn’t happen, Zin. Won’t happen today, either.” I hoped. Because if I passed Beau’s little test then we had an extra side deal I needed him for, very soon. “No blades. No weapons. Just our hands and feet.”

She gritted her teeth. “It’s Beau Bennett. If it was anyone else I wouldn’t be worried.”

“Aw, you’re worried? You are a sweetie.”

She batted my hand away. “Fuck you, Dex,” she huffed.

“Later, sweetness. Save some energy for me. Because I want you to drench this bed when I fuck you tonight.” I kissed her again until she was breathless, massaging her nape, then I let her go and slipped out the door before she could argue.

And no way in hell did I want her anywhere near the impromptu fight ring in that scant little nightie that I loved on her. The frat boys were horndogs and my girl was mine. Falcon might be all for sharing, but I didn't have those proclivities. My girl was mine alone, and I needed to get this fight done so Beau held up his end of the bargain.

Because his connections could get us where Nelson, Falcon and I fell short.

That I needed his help irritated the shit out of me. But being able to bang it out together—albeit at each other—evened the field somewhat. Plus, I was interested to see if the man was as brutal as myths surrounding him suggested.

The grassed area out the back of the frat house had been cleared of furniture, and a rope pulled about in a circular shape. I knew Zin would be able to see us from my window so I gave her a little wave as I walked backwards out of the house that she didn’t return, but she did plant her elbows on the windowsill, and didn’t move.

I sighed. So much for her being distracted with work while Beau and I beat the shit out of each other.

I found Falcon nearby, holding wrapping in his hands. I shook my head. “Never used it in the ring. Not about to start.”

“And if he uses glass?”

“Then he’ll have a short fall to the dirt and a brutal ending.”

I wasn’t about to pull my punches with this one. The deal was no weapons of any sort. I wasn’t in for cheating and I’d made that abundantly clear. I also made it clear that if I found outBeau took assistance, I’d be putting him down—in the hospital bed variety.

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